Anything under the Sun
The 13th Apostle
After our columns on the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ appeared during the Lenten Period last year, this writer was asked if there was a 13th Apostle to replace Judas Escariot.
Yes, there is. He took the place of Judas Escariot after the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven. This was how he was chosen:
The eleven Apostles gathered together. Presided by St. Peter, they chose one from two candidates- Joseph called Justus and Matthias.
Praying to the Lord, the Apostles said: "You Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen, to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas has by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave lots to the two; and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
According to Sacred Tradition, St. Matthias preached the Gospel in Judea and Ethiopia where he was crucified. However, other say that he was beheaded in Jerusalem.
He is venerated as patron saint of tailors, carpenters and reformed alcoholics and is invoked against small pox.
Incidentally, this election of Matthias showed that since the very beginning of the Church manifested Petrine Supremacy. Thenceforth, it was always St. Peter to whom the Apostles and the disciples of Christ look for leadership up to this death as the first Bishop of Rome.
This also made St. Peter the first Pope who is the Supreme Pontiff- above all other Apostles and disciples. This also made his unbroken line of successor up to the present, the Supreme Pontiff of the Church. Hence, those who do not recognize this Petrine Supremacy disregard the Sacred Tradition.
***
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT- The first set of Booklets (Books 1 to 5) of West Visayas Beautiful and Wonderful authored by this writer is now available at P500. Please call up Tel. No. 337-3045